Aerial apparatus.



T. N. BURKE.

AERIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATIONIILED IEB.19, 1910. 1 ,059,433. I Patented Apr. 22,1913.

6 BHEETS-BHEBT l.

Wm w,

T. N. BURKE. AERIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILBD FEB. 19, 1910.

Patented Apr.22, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ,GTZ I (IO-,WAIHINUTON D C T. N. BURKE.

AERIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1910.

1,059,433. Patented Apr. 22,1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

775655550766? fiwe/ M69 "1' R My,

UkUMlUA I'LANOl-RAI'II Cu WASHINGTON. n :4

T. N. BURKE.

AERIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED YEBJQ, 1910.

v 1,059,433. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

a SHEETS-SHEET 4. 58

COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAPH cm, WASHINGTON. n. c.

T. N. BURKE.

AERIAL APPARATUS.

' APPLIOATION FILED I'BB.19, 1910. 1 059,433; A Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

IIME M Patented Apr.;22, 1913.

6SHEBTS-SHBET 6.

...i Rm fi at! \\\\\\m T. N. BURKE.

AERIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1910.

WEI-2H a W W coLUMmA PLANOGRAFH COnWASII INGl'O-N. D. c.

THOMAS NLIBURKE, OFCHICAGO; ILLINOIS.

AERIAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.1

Application filed *FebruaryIB, 1910. Serial No. 544,729.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS N; BURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi-l cago, in the county of icookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use i ful Improvements lIli Aerial Apparatus, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relatestoimpro'vements in aerial apparatus, having reference more particularly to hook and 1adder trucks or apparatus in which a ladder, water tower,

fire-escape or other device is elevated from. asubstantially horizontalposition, and consists in certain improvements in the mechanisms which control theiraising, lowering and locking of the ladder or other :device.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved means whereby the ladder or device may be manually brought :to any desired position by the application ofa rela tively small amountof power Another object is to provide cushioning means for absorbing the shock occasioned by the stoppage of the ladder :inits upward movement when it has been raised to its extreme elevated position.

A further object is the provision of brak ing means for controlling the raising; and lowering movement of the ladder, and lockw ing means whereby the ladder may be locked against movement in any desired position.

Still another object/is the provision of an automatic lock for automatically locking and retaining the ladder in itslowered positlon. a Addltlonal alms and purposes. of my 111- vention will become apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following description when takenin iconnection with the accompanying drawings thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of ;a portion: of a tIHCki and ladder and showing one embodiment. of my. invention applied thereto. Fig. Qis a plan.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3+3 of Fig.

2. Fig. 4 is an elevation lookingfrom the. left in Figs. 1 and 2. F1g.1 5 1s an enlarged elevation partly in1 section,aof the lock for holdingthe ladder in lowered position. Fig.1 6 is a horizontal section showing the interior of one of the spring cylinders, Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig.6. Fig. 8 is a plan of a modified form of :my invention.

Fig.9 is a sectionon the line 9- 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of one end of the spring cylinder showing the shock-absorbing or cushioningmechanism. Fig. 11 a is a similar :view showing a modified form i of cushioning device, and, Fig. 12 is a sec tion on the line 1212of Fig.2, showing the turn table look.

In the drawings, 13 designates the frame of an ordinary fire truck upon which is 5 mounted the circular track or raceway 14 1 preferably elevated a slight distance above the truck frame by supporting blocks 15. Aturn table 16 adapted to travel on the track or raceway, comprises 'a circular plate 18,and a smaller plate 17 preferablybolted or otherwisesecured to the plate 18. In; order that the table may be turned easily and readily upon its track, a series of balls 19 are employed to provide an antifricti0n175 bearing between the tableand its raceway. The plate 18 is provided with a spring pressed latch=20 adapted to be engaged in a recess in the upper faceof the track 14 to i If so look the turn table against rotation. desired, the track may be provided with a. number of {recesses adapted to receive the end of the spring'pressed latch so that the table and ilocking mechanism and ladder carried t11ereby,:may be locked in anyone of 35 anumber of different positions when occasion requires. i

The turn table hasrigidly secured upon its upper side a plurality of standards 21 and lateral braces 21. connected togethereo at their upper extremities by the bearing shaft 22. This shaft is threaded at either end for :engagement with the nuts23. A: ladder or other aerial apparatus 24 is pivotally mounted upon the rod or shaft 122.95

and is adapted to turn thereon during its raising and lowering movements. ,While I I have shown a ladder in this connection, it will be understood that a water tower, fireesoape or other device might be substituted 10 0 therefor andunanipulated by the mechanism to be hereinafter described. A V-shaped brace ormember comprising the integral arms 25 and 26, is rigidly secured to each side piece of the ladder, as shownin, Fig. 1;

A plurality of links 26 connect: the V-w shaped members with a cross-bar 27. It will be evident that transverse movement of this crossbar willimpart to the ladder an angular movement. about its pivot by means of the links: and V-shaped members secured to the ladder.

Although the ladder may be both raised and lowered manually, I iprefer to provide means for automatically raising it and to resort to manual manipulation only for the IPUI'POSGH'OI lowering the ladder again to horizontal position. The raising mechanism comprises preferably a plurality of heavy coiled expansion elevatingsprings 28' in:v

closed in cylindrical casings 29 and adapted to hear at one end against the rear of the casings. and at the other end against pluna drum, and cables adapted to be wound upon the drum and connected to the crossbar 27 1n any preferred manner.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, I have shown a bearing'support 32secured upon each of the standards 21 and affording bearings for the operating shaft 33 which extends beyond thebearing supports at either end and is adapted to receive operating handles or cranks by means of which the shaft may be turned. v Rigidly secured upon the,noperating shaftmidway its ends, is a bevel-gear 34 adapted to mesh with a bevel-gear 35, secured upon the upper end of the. vertically disposed shaft 36, sup

ported at itslower end in a bearing 37, carried upon-the. horizontal shaft 38 which is mounted in bearings 39 and 40, bolted or otherwise, secured to the lowerplate 17 of the turntable. The upper end of the shaft 36 is maintained in position'by. a collar 40 carried by arms40 attached to and extendinglaterally from the pivot shaftp22. The

opening through the collar 40; is; enlarged to serve as a bearingfor. the upper end of the sleeve 41 which surrounds the shaft '36 and.

' is rigidly secured at itslower end in the is adapted to rotate.

hubl42 of ,an annular bevel-gear 43. The diameter of the gear43 is slightly less than that of the turntable within [which thegear A guide roller 44 mounted upon the turn table is adapted to engage the upper face of thegear 43 and maintain itin mesh with a bevel-gear45 secured upon the shaft 38 as shown in Fig.

3. ,The shaft 3Szhas also secured thereon,

' a bevel-gear 46 adapted to mesh with the bevel gear 47 carried upon the shaft 36,

7 while the sleeve 41 has secured thereon, a

bevel-gear 48 adapted. to mesh with and drive-a plurality of bevel-gears 49 rotatably to include any flexible-connection such as supported between the pairs of'elongated bars 51, and having secured thereon the drums 52.

Each of the drums 52is grooved on its outer surface to receive a cable 53Iwhichis wrapped one or more times around the drum and is secured thereto at one point'to prethe grooves. By the term cable I mean chain, hemp rope, or'other preferred means,- which is adapted to wind around a drum, but I have shownand preferablyemploya cable composed of strands of steel wire; Each of the cables, is led fro-m its drum over guide sheaves 54 mounted in. brackets 55, bolted or otherwise secured upon the turn table-16, and passes through the center of the rear end of the cylinders 29 and'extends longitudinally of the cylinders through the center of the coil springs 28. Each convent longitudinal slipping of the cable in necting rod v31 is grooved on its upper side as shown in Figslt' and 7 for the re-. ception of a cable and is provided ,withfa clamp block or wedge "55 f adapted tobe' forced, by means of a, bolt 56 which is threaded through'the wall ofthe plunger 30 as shown in Fig. 7, against the cable,

clamping it between. the'bOttO1I1' '0f"tlI8 block and the bottom of the groove in the member 31. By screwingdown thebolt 56 the cable isrigidly .clamped'to the member 31 and the plunger 30. From the forward end of the cylinder, each cable is led over a guide sheave 57' rotatably mounted in a bracket 58, secured upon and extending out-z wardly from the turn table. When the drums are operated 'tofwind 1 the endless cables therearound the ,plungers 30 and the connecting rods 31 secured to the cables will impart movement to the crossbar 27 to turn the ladder aboutits pivotal bearing. Since a both of the drums are driven from the bevelgear 48 it will be evident that they .wi ll'*turn* in. opposite vdirections, and in order that both cables-and the attached 'plungers may be moved in the same direction simultane ously, itiis necessary that one" of the, cables be led from the bottom of its drum over sheaves 54 and 57, while the other cable is as shown in Fig. 1. V p V The ladder may be moved around its pivot- 22' to either raise or lower it, by turning the-- I V operating shaft 33 bymeans of cranks or handles which may be applied to the end thereto, the rotation of the drums which 1 wind the cables around themselves, being;

effected through the intermediary of the bevel-gears 34, 35,47, 46, 45, 43, 48; and 49. The difference in size betweenthedrivmg gear 34 'and the driven gear 35 and more particularly between the driving gear 45 and driven gear 43, will multiply the power ap plied to the operating shaft 33 so that a long- 115 ledfrom the top of its drum over the sheaves i i as shown at 63 ctor thereception of 1a pluthe forward ends offithe ifingers come to-i to slide longitudinally of the block 160 and engage with the curved ends of the knuckle rearward position so that it engages with the knuckle fingers aroundthe cross-bar willl and heavy ladder can be easilyand readily manipulateclJ The springs 28 was shown on:the drawings, act to raise theladderlor 1t0.,1tSSlSt in. the. raising operation, depending upon the weight of the ladder and: the strength of the springs: Obviously "the springs 'might be dispensed with entirely and the ladder manipulated wholly by hand throughthe drum and cable connections. The isprings ordinarily em ployed, however, are of suflicient strength to raise the ladder automatically and the manual. :meohanism is brought, into operation only to restore the ladder to normal; horizontal position: i a i In order that the ladder and the OPQIZlt-a ing, mechanism may be released from :the strain :of the compressed springs when the truck is, not in use, I have provided a lock adapted to automatically engage the bar 271 and hold it with the springs in retracted position as shownin Figs.;1,2yand 3. The lock is supported between. a plurality of. arms 59, extending forwardly: from the brackets 58 and embracing a block 60 which. is secured in place by means of bolts 61. and, 62.. The block is slottedat its forwardend rality of locking fingers orknuckles 64 and 65. The knuckles are pivoted uponthe bolts 64 and 65 and are adapted to swing from; the open positionshown in full linesin Fig.1 5 to the closed position shown in dotted lines in the same figure; Whenin closed position;

get-her around the cross-bar 27 and retain: it inits extreme zrearward position. The knuckles are maintained in iclosedo-r locked positionby means of a plunger l66 adapted to enter betweeni the tails. offthe knuckles 6i and 65 to hold :said tails apart andmaiir: tainthe lockinglfingers together, as shown in. dotted lines in; Fig. 5. 1, i r

The plunger, which is ofhollowxconst-ruction, is pressed toward the lmuckles by a light coil spring 67 positioned within the i plunger and ladapted to bear against the enlarged end 68 of a rod 70 extending, through the cap: 69, threaded upon the rearward end: of the plunger, andprovided with an opening through which the rod 70 is. adapted topass. Thefront end of the plunger is curved or concaved to conform :to and tails to yieldingly maintain the knuckles in open position, as i shown in. full lines in Fig. 5. When the cross-bar is drawnback by the drum and: cable mechanism into its the shoulders 71 on the knuckles, the knuckles willbe swungthereby about theirflpivots to bring their curved locking fingers into engagement with the crossbar, Closing of tingthe plunger :61 to be thrust forwardly iretractedposition against the force of the elevating. SIJI'IHUS.

rearwardend to a lever 72pivotally1nounted at .72 upon:the zbaseiof a bracket 73 secured on the turn tableand provided with a bearing through whichitherod'ZO is adapted toislide longitudinally; A coil expansion springfl ;is maintained in position on the rod between the. bracket73 and a collar 75 secured on theirod, and tends normallyito by the spring 67 into \position betweenithe tailso The knuckles are thus automatically closed andlocked to retain the cross-barin ll1e;rod70 is pivotally connected at :its

thrust the rod forwardly into theposition shown inFigQ-SJ Toithe upper end of the. lever 72 there is attacheda link 76 connectt ed at :its outer end with an: arm 77 on .a

rockf-shaft 7 8, which hassecured upon its outer end an operating lever 80. The

bracket 7 3 has at its rear side anupwardly projecting finger 81 provided with an; ad-I justable stop in the form of a screw 82 against which the rear face of the lever 72 is adapted toabut to limit the rearward longitudlnal movement of the rod 70 plunger 65. I i Assuming that .th

and

e ladder is in lowered position and locked inithat positioirby the lever 722011 its pivot and withdrawing the plunger 65 by means of the connecting rod 70 from between: the tails of the knuckles 64 and \Vhen the plunger has been nearlywithdrawn from between the tails it will be snapped outagainstthe force of the light spring-08. This action is oocasioned by the enormous force of the eleyating, springs tending to force the crossbar forwardly and turn the knuckles on their pivots to open or releasing position, the curved formation of the inner ends of the tails exerting a cam action on the plunge and acceleratingits exit from between the tails. is released and the knuckles have assumed their open position, the plunger will he urged forward to bring its concavedend into engagement with the curved rear ends of the knuckle tails to yieldlngly maintain As soon 'as theeross-bau them in; open position. The rod 70 together with the lever 80, and intermediate connections, will be restorednto normal position bythe expansion spring 74, which, being stronger than the spring 67 will force the rod 70 into the plunger totheposition shown in Fig.5. T timewill be automaticaliy raised by the expansionof the elevating springs 28..

he ladder in the meani In order to absorb the shock incident to the springs reaching the limit of their eX- pansive movement, I .preferably'provide the outer ends of the cylinders with cushioning means, one form of which I have disclosed in Fig. 10 and another in Fig. 111., It will be understood, of course, that these cushioning. means may be omitted, if desired, as shown in Fig. 6, without materially detractingqfromthe efliciency of the device; but I prefer to employ some sort of shock absorber. InFig. 10 I have shownan annular-plate '81 surrounding the bearing for the. rod 31 and fitting tightly within the casing of the cylinder 29. This plate is preferably provided with a plurality of rearwardly extending, pins SQadapt-ed to be engaged by the plunger 30 when it ap* proaches the end of the cylinder-2 Engage- .springs 84 positioned in the end of the cyl inder and adapted to absorb the shock of the expanding springs 28. For the purpose of controlling the speed at which the ladder is raised and lowered,

'I have provided'a friction brake adapted to be manuallyaoperated and comprising a stationary friction member 85,, carried by a bracket 86 mounted on: the member 40, and arotary friction member 87 'splined on theshaft 33and adaptedto frictionallyengage with the member85. The friction ,members are brought into operative engagement by means of a brake handle or lever 88 pivotally mounted-at 89 and provided with a collar 88 engaging in an annular groove on the member 87, by means of which'the member may be adjusted longitudinally of shaft 33. l v I have also provided means for lockingythe the operating mechanism against movement, i comprlsing a bevel-gear 90 integral with the. friction member .87 and adapted to mesh I withlthe bevel-gear 35. The lever 88 may be operatedto bring gear 90 into mesh with gear 35 thereby locking all the gears against rotation; By this locking means the ladder may be locked in any desired, position either at the extreme limits of its movement or at any intermediate point. It will be .evidentthat by moving the lever 88 to the right in Fig, 4-, the friction member 87 will be brought into engagement with the friction member and the frictional engagement between the two members will act as a brake to regulate .the speed of the against rotation and: the ladder will be shaft 33. By moving the lever 88 to -the left in Fig. 4, the gear will be thrown V into meshing engagement-with the: gear 35- and the shaft will be effectually locked locked against movement. I This lock might be employed, if desired, tolock the ladder in its normal or horizontal position, but since all of the force of the heavysprings 28 wouldbe exerted uponthe Cables, drums,- and intermediate gears, when thetruck-was';

not in use thereby subjecting the mechanism to an unnecessary strain, I prefer to employ the automatic lock which engages the cross-bar 27 and resists the forceof the compressed springs fo'r'holding the ladder in lowered position. By means, however, of

my combined lock and brake, bot-h manipulated from the r sameleveryI am enabled a to maintain the ladder under perfect control during itsraising and lowering move-: ments. i

The structure described is intended for the manipulation of ladders of extreme length and great weight, and is especially adaptedfor this purpose because of the multiplica ti'on of the applied power by meansof the large bevel-gear 43. In smaller sizes of lad- 1 ders which can be handled more easily, it is,

not always necessary to so materiallyin shaft. To provide a structure of simple construction adapted for handling lighter lad-. ders, I- haveshown in Figs. 8 and 9, a modi i fication of theoperating mechanism wherein ture therein disclosed, the long vertical shaft v crease the power applied to; the operating]v f the large gear' l3is omitted. In thestruce I a 36, the horizontal shaft 38,-the sleeve 41,;- and the connecting bevel-gears of the previously described m.odification, are replaced by a stubs-haft 91- carrying at; its. upper end the; bevel-gear 92 adapted to mesh with theordi nary bevelgear' 3 1 andat its lower end a bevel gear 93v with which is adapted to mesh l a large'beVeI-gearQ-lmounted on adrum-I shaft 95. f This, drum shaft carries the two. drums 96 similar to the drums 52,v but rigidly securedqon the shaft. If preferred, a i solid drum might be substitutedfor the two. I, drums shown in this modification. Instead .115

of running the cables which are wound around the drums over sheaves and into-the,

spring cylinder casings, I employ an zelon- I gated loop or eye 97 positioned substantially in ,alinement. with the lower edge of eachdrum, to the inner ends. of which the ends of the cables 98 are secured. Eachloopor eye-is connected'to thecross-bar 27 by an. integral link 99 similar tothe link 31 in they previously described modification. The rear thecylinder casings. In: this modification also, the elevating springs willsometimes be found unnecessary if ladders of very, small 125. ends of the loops or eyes are guided inbeare ingbrackets 100 secured to the rear endsof s size are to be manipulated, .butwwhen the springs are employedand are heavy and strong enough to automatically raise the lad- I der without the assistance of themanual meohamsm, the automatic lock for engaging the cross-bar 27 to hold it in its: rearward position with the ladder in horizontal posidesired to stop the ascent of the ladder :and

lock it into any point intermediate its horizontal and. vertical p0sitions,tlie lever 88 is manipulated lto throw the gear, 90 into engagement with the gear 35 thereby effectually locking the ladder against movement in either direction. If the ascent of the ladder is permitted to continue: until it ireaches a vertical position, the shock which would result from the impact of the heavy ex ansion springsagainst the ends of the cylin er casings, will be absorbedbythe cushioning devices, as previously described. When it is desired to lower the ladder, handles are applied to the ends of the shaft? 33whereupon the drums may be rotated to wind thecables there-around and draw the cross-bar rear wardly against a the force of the elevating I springs until itrengages with the inner] curved surfaces of the knuckles 64 and (35,

whereupon the knuckles willi turn on their pivots and automatically lock the bar in retracted position.

l/Vhile Ihave shown; and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent that variouschanges in mechanical details maybe resorted to without 1 departing from the spirit ofthe invention or sacrificing any 3 of the imaterial advantages I thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In an aerial apparatus, the combination of a vertically; tiltablefiaerial member, an elevating springyworking in a horizontal direction, a plunger rod actuated by the,

spring,,a connection between theplunger rod and the aerial member, an endlessfiexi ble element connected to the plunger rod, front and rear, guides for the flexibleele-1 ment, a windin drum;having :the jflexible element woundt ereon, and means for rotat-1 ing the drum. a

2.. In an aerial ap aratus, the combination ofa vertically tiltab e aerial member, an elew .vating'spring working in a horizontal direcw .ment thereof.

tion, alcasing for the spring, a plunger 11'Od associated with the spring and working; through the casing, a COHIIQCtIOIIbBiZWGGIIthe plunger rod and theaerial member, a w1nd- I ingzdrum above the casing and between its ends, an endless flexible element wound upon thedrum, connected with the plunger rod and working through the casing,and means for :actuating the drum.

3. In an aerialapparatus, the combination of a pivotalmember, a support therefor, a 1 cross-bar,connections fromsaid crossbar to said :pivotal member, means formoving the I cross-baroutwardly to turn said pivotal said bar :andpivotal member tonormal pow 180 sition, and automaticVl ocking means to en: gage said bar and prevent movement.

member on itspiv0t,means for returning thereof. i

4. In anaerial apparatus, the combination of. a pivotal member, asupport therefor, a cross-bar, connections between said cross- I bar land pivotal member, means for moving the cross-barinwardly and outwardly to lower and raise the pivotal member, and automatic locking means to engage saidbar and: prevent movement thereof:

5. In an aerial apparatus, the combination a of a pivotal member; a support therefor, a J

transversely movable cross-bar, operative connections between said cross-bar and pivotal member, means for positivelymoving:

said bar in opposite directions to raise and lower the plvotal member, and a lock adapted to automatically engage said crosssbar;

when in retracted position to prevent move- 6. Inuan aerial appa1'atus,tl1e combination of a pivotal member, a support therefor, a cross-bar, connections from sald cross-bar to said :pivotalmember, springs for moving the cross-bar; outwardly to turn. said pivotal member on its pivot, means for returning said bar and pivotal member to normalposition, and automatic locking means to engage said bar :and prevent movement thereof.

7. In an aerial apparatus, the combination of :a pivotal member, a support therefor, a cross-bar,connections from said cross-bar to said pivotal member, springs for movingfthe cross-bar outwardly to turn said pivotal member on its pivot, means for returning:

said ban and pivotal member to normal position, and meansfor automatically locking;

said cross-bar against :the, action of said a springs,said means comprising a plurality of 1 pivoted members adapted to be opened and closed by the movement of the cross-bar, and 1 mechanism: for automatically locking, said.

members in open=0r closed position.

8. In an aerial apparatus, the combination of apivotal member, a support thereforya cross bar, connections between said cross bar and pivotal member, means for :moving the I cross bar unwardly and outwardly tolower and raise the pivotalmember, and automatic locking means to engagesaid bar and prevent movement thereof lncluding a pair of knuckles to embrace. and retain said bar against movement, and means to, automati tion of a pivotal member, tensio-nmeans-fori positively raising and loweringcsaid meme cally lock the knuckles in bar-retaining position and to, yieldingly lock said'knuckles in bar-releasing position, "substantially as described. 'r V 9. In anzaerial apparatus, the combination,

of arpivotal member, ,a support therefor, a

crossbar, connections between said cross-bar and pivotal member, means for movingthe' cross-bar inwardly and outwardlyv to 4 lower and raise the'pivotal member, and automatic locking means to engage said-bar and pre-- vent movement thereof including a plurality of locking knuckles; provided with rear-. wardly extending tails, a spring-pressed plungeradapted to be engaged between the tails of the knuckles to lock said knuckles in closed position, said plunger being also adapted to engage the-rear. ends of the knuckles to yieldmgly maintain said knuckles in open position, means to move said bar into position to be engaged by saidknuckles, means to withdraw said plunger from locking position, and means for withdrawing the cross bar from said knuckles'upon releaseof the knuckles bythe plunger, substantially as described. I p

-1O.In,jan aerial apparatus, the combination of a-pivotal "member, a support there for, a cross bar, connections between said cross-bar and pivotal member, means for moving the ,cross bar inwardly and outwar 1y to lower and raise the pivotal memher, a pair of knuckles pivoted to grasp and hold thebar, means for locking said knuckles .in position, comprising a spring-pressed plunger to engage the endspf the knuckles, and manual means for withdrawing said plunger to release the knuckles, substantially as described.

to automatically. hold said knuckles in open by the plunger maybe withdrawn to release the knuckles, substantially as described.

12. In an. aerial apparatus, the com'bina her, an automaticlockfor holding said mem ber in loweredposition against the elevating;

action of thetensioned means,-a brake for controlling the speed of the raising and lowering member, and means; for locking themember against movement at any'desired elevation.

said membenmeans for lowering said mem ber, means for locking said. member in lowered position, and a braking and locking mechanism adapted whenmo-ved 'jbod ily in V one direction to act asa brake-to control the movement of the pivotal member, and when movedbodily in theother direction to lock.

the pivotal member in any position against movement. 1

14.1- In an aerial apparatus,"the 'co mbin al I tionof a pivotal member,, an operating shaft, connections from said operating shaft to. said pivotal member whereby said pivotal mem ber may be turned on its pivot, a braking. 1 i

and locking member mountedon-said oper;

ating shaft, "and means. for moving said trol the movement of the pivotal member, and for moving said member 1n the, other direction to lock the pivotal member against movement. v

15. In an aerialapparatus, the combination of a pivotal member, aplurality of. springs, connections between said "springs and said member whereby the member may be turned by said springs on its pivot, means for cushioning the action, of said springs,,

means for turning the pivotal member jO Il its pivot against the fo-rceof said springs, and 7 means for automatically locking said menu ber against movementwhen it has been brought to its extreme position force of. the said springs.

Witnesses I 1.3: J. WILSON, .M. RoBERTsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing t e fGomniissioner of Patents)" against the THOMAS N. BURKE. I i

s 85 member inone CllI'QCtlOIltO brake andxcon-p 

